Conferences and other networking events always give us the perfect opportunity to not only interact with other beautiful and powerful Black women with similar interests but to also learn, show up, and show out. (I don’t know about you but I love a good excuse to plan trips and outfits with the ultimate goal of meeting new people and learning new things.)
With this in mind, here’s a roundup of must-go events if you’re looking to commune with other Black women professionals.
The White Dress Project’s Empowerment Experience, July 14-16, Washington DC.
Led by an advocacy group that has put an empowering spotlight on women’s health--- particularly in reference to fibroids and reproductive health---this event features interactive workshops, empowering conversations, and uplifting activities aimed at activating major aspects of our lives.
PNC Power Networking Conference: August 2-5 Houston
If you want to be among experienced entrepreneurs and thought leaders, this is the place to be. From wealth advisers to business powerhouses, to spiritual leaders, this is quite the level-up type of conference where you can learn from your elders and get some solid insights from people who have been there and done that.
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International Black Women’s Congress (IBWC) Conference Virginia Beach, Va., September 23-25
Hosted by a nonprofit that seeks to connect women of African descent from all global backgrounds, this is one of their yearly events to talk about topics that impact Black women of the diaspora. This event offers the opportunity to network with women from all over the world and from a multitude of industries and walks of life.
The Adcolor Conference: Los Angeles, November 9-11
This conference is launched by an organization that advocates for diversity in the tech and creative industries. And since the 2022 roster of speakers included leading professionals from Google, LinkedIn, Amazon, and more, along with a mix of phenomenal entrepreneurs who have innovated in their own right and our favorite celebs including Keke Palmer and Issa Rae, you know this year’s event will be one not to miss.
Mogulcon: Nov 2-5 In Nashville, Tenn.
From masterclasses on how to boost your business success, to practical talks from experts in leadership, mindset, email marketing, and more, participants are set to learn a lot about how to build legacies and empires---not just businesses. It's hosted by a serial entrepreneur in her own right and boasts sponsors including Honey Pot and Wells Fargo.
Black Women Talk Tech, UK: October 5-6, London
The founders of this awesome event for Black women in tech (and those who work with and support them) are taking their event on the road, giving the U.K. a much-needed space for Black women to feel supported, to be empowered, and to be educated on what it means to be successful in both business and the tech industry. There’s a pitch competition where the award is actual funding, and you can rub elbows with a few new potential international business besties.
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TEDWomen: October 11-13, Atlanta
The great thing about this conference is that it centers on intellect, ideas, and ways to change things for the better for women, and there’s an inclusion of our male counterparts in order to have balanced conversations about issues related to women’s equality. There are opportunities to attend dinners, listen to talks, and interact with a diverse body of thinkers and doers.
Ultimate Women’s Expo: October 14 2023 - April 27 2024, Multiple Cities
With events launching in Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, New York, and Miami (and several already sold out), its popular draw is the plethora of products and services offered via booths, seminars with speakers including business leaders and celebrities, and professionals offering the keys to success in industries including financial services, beauty, travel, home design, and more.
AfroTech Conference, November 1-5, Austin, Texas
This is an opportunity to connect with tens of thousands of Black tech professionals and innovators at what’s touted as “the largest Black tech conference of the year.” There will be digital and in-person events within the conference filled with panels and discussions on emerging trends and attendees can even upload their resumes to their Talent Infusion Resume Book.
If you’re looking at some of these and raising an eyebrow about the admissions costs, don’t fret. Some have student or corporate rates, so make that proposal sis, and have your company sponsor you. And if you can’t make it this year, bookmark their websites for other smaller upcoming events (like AfroTech’s Happy Hours) or save those coins to plan a girls’ trip for next year.
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Again, the answer never changes because, if there is one thing that Shellie Reneé Warren is gonna get, it’s 6-8 (sometimes nine) hours of sleep. However, since my chronotype (check out “Ever Wonder What Personality Traits Make Someone A 'Morning Person'?”) means that I like/prefer to write in the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I will sleep for the night for five hours and take a nap in the day. And y’all, that is just fine with me because I am well aware of the fact that napping does everything from give me more energy, heighten my alertness and even make me more creative to decrease stress levels, strengthen immunity, and reduce my chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
My problem is I will oftentimes go “overboard” with my daytime zzz’s. What I mean by that is, in order to get the most out of a nap, they say thatyou shouldn’t sleep for longer than 25 minutes or so; otherwise, you could wake up feeling sluggish (I don’t but…). Also, it can make resting, soundly, at night a bit of a struggle.
So, what are you saying, Shellie? We should get quickies in? Yeah. And it’s funny that the word “quickie” would come up because just like a sex quickie can do wonders for you (and it can — check out “12 Super Solid Reasons To Have A Quickie Every Single Day”), it’s a full-circle moment when I say that something that can improve the quality of your sex life is to have a power nap (a nap that lasts between 10-30 minutes).
Wanna know how the two things correlate? Honestly, it’s no secret that sleep and sex work together to optimize both (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”). Today, though, we’re going to tap into how a nap, specifically, can have you partaking in some of the best sex that you’ve experienced in a minute. I’ll explain.
Naps Reduce Stress
GiphyIf you’re feeling super stressed out right now, you are not alone. There is plenty of data out here that says that most of us are stressed for at least a couple of reasons at a time — and that can impact your sexual health on a few levels. For one thing, it can bring about feelings of depression and/or anxiety. Stress can also throw your hormone levels off (including your cycle) which can weaken your libido. Stress can make you want to put distance between you and your partner (yes, literally).
Stress can also make it challenging to get aroused or to have an orgasm. And just what can help to decrease stress? Taking a nap. Since sleep has a way of helping you to “get off of the clock” and relax a bit, that can lower your stress levels and “reset” your body so that you are calmer — and that, in turn, can do wonders for your sex drive and ultimately your sex life.
Naps Improve Your Mood
GiphyThere is one person in my life, and fairly 80 percent of the time, she’s in a super good mood. Oh, but let that girl go without sleep, and…who is this woman? LOL. There’s research behind why this happens. When a person is sleep-deprived, it messes with their brain chemicals, and that can amplify emotions like anger, restlessness and sadness. In fact, one study revealed that people who had their sleep disrupted throughout the night, they ended up having their positive outlook on life reduced by about 30 percent.
And geeze, who wants to have sex when they’re not feeling very good? Anyway, since serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your moods, your sleep patterns, and your libido and sleep is what helps to keep it in balance — by taking a nap, not only can it help you to feel better, it can also increase your desire for sex (it can also build up your endurance which is also…sexually beneficial).
Naps Increase Your Focus and Concentration
GiphySomething that some of my clients bring up is how, when it comes to having sex, sometimes the flesh is willing while the spirit is weak because, although the desire for intimacy is there, so much is going on that they aren’t able to get still enough to focus on experiencing copulation with their partner. This also tracks because, when you don’t have enough rest, your brain finds itself not working in harmony and that can make it hard to do everything from approaching life with a sense of flexibility to making necessary decisions.
Certain data also reveal that a lack of rest can cause you to have a really poor attention span and not process things in context (the more you know). So, if you really want to get some yet it’s hard for you to focus long enough to make it happen, ask your bae to lie down with you and take a nap. Between the sleep and the snuggling (check out “Fall's Coming: 8 Wonderful Health Benefits Of Cuddling”) — you may wake up with your mind and body totally on the same page. #wink
Naps Can Make You Feel Better About Your Body
GiphyEven if, overall, you feel really good about your body, I think that we all have moments when we feel less attractive than others — and who wants to have sex when they don’t really feel…very sexy? Well, something else that sleep, in general, can do is increase your confidence in your body.
For one thing, if you want to lose a few pounds, sleep can actually make that happen by helping your body metabolize the glucose (sugar) that’s in it so that you can better manage your appetite. Other studies go on to share that since sleep deprivation can impact one’s mental health and emotional stability in a negative way, of course, getting enough rest would increase body positivity.
Shoot, science even goes so far as to say that insomnia can cause people to have an elevated level of dissatisfaction when it comes to their body image. Don’t take their word for it, though. Look in the mirror before a nap. Then look in a mirror after waking up from me. Do you feel better? I’d be surprised if you don’t.
Makes Your Brain Bigger…Which Could Make Your Orgasms Better
GiphyI saved the best for last by design. Now if you’re wondering how in the world a nap can improve (and possibly increase) your orgasms — oh, there is a method to the madness…trust. For starters, the saying that your biggest sex organ is your brain? That isn’t a myth. Long story less long, the brain is what houses your central nervous system and that is what controls how men and women sexually function (yes, literally).
And since the brain also releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin during sex and brain activity significantly increases in women during sexual activity (especially right before she orgasms) — well, would it trip you out to know that when you take a nap, your brain actually expands? A bigger brain (that’s healthy) can potentially intensify your sexual experiences (and your climaxes) — and who doesn’t want that to go down?
____
Like I said earlier, I never have to be convinced to get a nap in. However, if your sex life has been a bit stagnant lately, you’ve been feeling a little sluggish and you’re not sure what to do — I’m hoping that a nap can get you right.
There’s enough science to prove that it can. All you need to do is give it a shot.
Now where’s your pillow and sleep mask, chile?
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